Thank you for contacting me about air quality.
It is encouraging that air pollution has reduced significantly since 2010. Air pollution has reduced significantly since 2010: emissions of nitrogen dioxide have fallen by 44 per cent, sulphur emissions have fallen by 70 per cent and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions have fallen by 18 per cent. However, there is still more to do, including in our area.
Newton Abbot still breaches acceptable limits in some areas and that must change. Air pollution is the top environmental risk to human health in the UK, and children are particularly vulnerable. This is due to both being nearer in height to vehicle exhaust pipes, where many particulates originate and also lungs which are still developing. Air pollution is estimated to cost society £1.7 billion every year to 2020, which will rise to £5.3 billion through to 2030. This includes the cost of treating related illnesses.4
Through the Environment Act 2021, the Government is continuing to improve air quality with a target to have an annual mean concentration target for PM2.5 levels at 10 µg per m3 or below by 2040, as well as a target to reduce population exposure to PM2.5 by 35 per cent by 2040 (compared to 2018). I understand that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs believes that these levels cannot be achieved by 2030 but can by 2040.
Further, Ministers have placed a duty on local authorities to keep air pollution within legal limits and expect them to take action. The Government provided £883m of dedicated funding to help local authorities develop and implement local nitrogen dioxide air quality plans and support those affected by these plans. In addition, the Air Quality Grant helps councils to develop and implement measures to benefit schools, businesses and communities and reduce the impact of air pollution on people’s health.
Finally, through the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023, the Government will challenge local authorities to improve air quality quicker by assessing their performance and use of existing powers, while supporting them with clear guidance, funding and tools. Ministers will facilitate the rollout of further Clean Air Zones by local councils in areas which are in breach of air quality statutory limits, with further zones and other non-clean air zone measures as required.
I believe that we can improve air quality further in our area by improving air quality testing, which is a subject I have raised in Parliament. Additionally, we should be embracing electric buses and encouraging more use of private electric cars by improving our on-street charging facilities. I support the existing schemes that the Government has made available to assist local authorities in this, and to help families with the cost of installing electric vehicle charging facilities at home.
For those who have contacted me about the Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill (also known as Ella's Law) I am aware that it recently completed its passage in the House of Lords and is now awaiting Second Reading in the House of Commons. While Ministers appreciate the Bill’s intentions, I am assured that the Government already has a comprehensive legal framework through which a wide range of actions are being taken to drive down pollutants and their damaging effects on people and the environment. Additionally I do not as a rule support Early Day Motions as I have not found them to be an effective means of achieving change.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
